Dr. Julia Byers is the Art Therapy Coordinator, Co-coordinator of the Advanced Certificate in Play Therapy, and Senior Advisor in the PhD Interdisciplinary Studies and Expressive Therapy programs. She has been teaching at Lesley for 14 years. Formerly, Julia was the Art Therapy Coordinator and Professor at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada for 16 years. Julia has provided workshops and lectures in crisis intervention and alternative therapies in 14 different countries. From an inter-disciplinary perspective, Dr. Byers is interested in the use of art therapy for positive psychological growth.

Dr. Byers’ research interests include working with many diverse international groups of people on topics of wellness, prevention, organizational consulting, creativity and innovation, and studio arts based inquiry. Julia has published many articles on humanitarian art therapy, excellence in teaching, crisis intervention and other related topics emphasizing the role of the arts for building empathy and hope within our complex global societies.